Member Reviews
I absolutely LOVE the Lovelight Farms series so I was thrilled to get an early copy of this, and while it wasn't bad, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me! I have never seen Sleepless in Seattle, so I did not find the radio show portion of this to be particularly compelling - perhaps just a missing link.
Since that was such a major part, I found myself skipping sections. It felt cheesy, but not in a fun way. I was happy for the characters to end u[p together but just didn't love it.
This was so much fun! B.K. Borison has proven to be the master of the witty, banter filled romances we all devour.
Aiden is the romance radio host who has stopped believing in love. Lucie is a single mom who has never had time to find her own love story. When they come together in an unlikely way on air… they join together to set out to find Lucie love, and to help Aiden’s job.
This romcom was so cute and different with a modern take on sleepless in Seattle!! I enjoyed this story and the cast of characters that I hope we see in the future.
The banter between Aiden and Lucie was a highlight to the development of this book, and their relationship, as always Borison has written a book that will be so well loved.
Thank you Berkley for the eARC.
guys guys guys i’m losing my mind this is was so good like i don’t know if you guys are big romcom people, but this is literally sleeping in seattle was a book but with a beautiful twist and i LOVED it!
like truly this book was soooo refreshing, lucid and aiden?? oh my otp. 100%. and i don’t usually like kids in books, but lucie’s daughter was everything to me. she was so real y’all, and the side characters added so much to the story like every moving part and chapter in this book was necessary. the pacing was perfect, i love how the plot progressed and how much background we got as well, i’m very very happy with this story and CANNOT wait for what’s in store with this series! this is also my non spoiler review so it’s a bit short than what i would love to write but it’ll do for now. definitely recommend this one!
4.5 stars :)
This “Sleepless in Seattle” inspired romance will leave you grinning from ear-to-ear. I couldn’t help, but reminisce about the great rom-coms of the 90s while I read this. They just don’t make movies like that anymore, hence why I now mostly read rom-coms instead.
“First Time Caller” by BK Borison has a funny start with Lucie overhearing her 12-year old daughter, Maya, on the phone with a strange man when she should be in bed. It turns out Maya called Baltimore’s radio show Heartstrings to help her mom find love. Instead she finds host, Aiden Valentine, who does not believe in love or romance. But when Aiden and Lucie are thrown together by his producer who sees the ratings potential, sparks fly.
I loved Aiden and Lucie. Aiden is a grump with a heart of gold and Lucie is learning to take risks to expand the love she alreadg has in her life. They had great banter and chemistry. The side characters were cute too. I have some guesses for who Heartstrings 2 will follow. I wish we saw more of Aiden with Lucie’s family. I had that thought towards the end of the book and then the epilogue was such a good sneak of his dynamic with Maya that it left me wishing we got more of that.
🎧📻 Don’t you just love it when there is a character in a book you see SO MUCH of yourself in to the point where it almost brings you to tears. I think this book is going to be something so special that many hopeless romantics are going to love. There is a quote in this book that I gasped so loud reading because it felt like the author took a peek into my mind and put my exact thoughts onto paper. Without giving away too much, this is for the people who want to be chosen, wanted and loved in the way that feels like sparks are flying and magic is coursing through them as they finally find the person who is perfectly their favorite person who seems like they were almost made for them. It’s for the people who dream of that great love but are often left waiting in the sidelines wondering why they aren’t deserving yet in the same way they see others who already have it do.
THANK YOU BK BORRISON FOR THIS BOOK. It spoke to me in so may ways and made me feel so seen. I loved reading about Lucie & Aiden and I think readers will too!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
This book was exactly what I needed right now!!! I’m coming from recently reading books with so much angst and this was so cute, heartwarming, fun and refreshing!!! A true romantic comedy. I caught myself laughing out loud so many times. I loved the idea of the main scenery being a radio show and the radio transcripts made it even better.
Aiden and Lucie felt real and very relatable. I don’t know how the author did it, but I was truly feeling all the emotions going on here with the characters. I felt happy, sad, upset, hopeful. In my opinion it’s easier to make the MMC and FMC great characters together, but harder to make them also great by themselves, but BK Borison did exactly that in this book. The connection was genuine, the fears were real and relatable, the spice was spicing and the side characters were also so fun. I loved Maya, the kid. So smart and so special, raised by great parents that chose not to be together but had a great friendship. This was my first BK Borison book and I will for sure read more! Thank you netgalley and berkley for this arc!!!
I loved every moment of this book. I have recently become a huge fan of BK Borison and her writing. The Lovelight Farms series charmed me and surprised me. First Time Caller was an incredible start to a new series and was delightful in every way. I loved the nod to Sleepless in Seattle. I loved the MC’s so much as well as the side characters. I’m so excited to read more from this series. I am a forever fan of BK Borison now. 😍
B.K. Borison has written a book about love. Love in life, love in family, love in friends, love in partners. She has definitely made me fall in love with First-Time Caller.
Borison shows how vulnerable love and the fear of caring too much can truly be, but leaves us all wanting to have that magical feeling no matter the potential heartache.
Aiden and Lucie were both such well rounded and realistic characters that it had me wishing Heartstrings was a real radio broadcast where I could tune in to their flirting antics. This book had me breaking into huge grins and cracking up out loud. I highly recommend this book if you love wacky family dynamics, swoony vulnerable bossy men, and quirky brave independent women. You will not regret picking up this book.
This gripped me right from page 1. So many nice flashbacks/nods to Sleepless in Seattle retelling that brought me back but also felt updated. I loved the conversations especially between these two, it’s a real talent when an author can have characters talk about mundane things and you just wish they would keep talking about anything. It’s sweet and tender and even made me tear up a bit. And really love Aiden.
As with all of BK Borrison's books, I finished this in a day. I loved sleepless in Seattle growing up, and this had such a fun little Sleepless vibe. The banter was fantastic, the characters were adorable. There's not really a third act breakup or miscommunication, more like a realization period. I loved the build up, super cute.
<b>“I think I got too used to you in the spot next to me. I’ll be fine. Promise.” I squeeze. “I like the spot next to you.” He gives me a half-smile. “Yeah. Me too.”</b>
ooooh, i am crushing on this book! BK Borison will make you believe in magic! in love! First time caller is romantic AF! Sleepless in Seattle 🤝🏼 the bachelorette. prepare to be charmed ladies and gents.
ps. i am going to NEED 320 pages of jackson! pls tell me there will be more books!
<u>THINGS AND STUFF </u>
-dual pov
-radio station 101.6 LITE FM
-heartstrings, baltimore’s romance hotline
-single mom
-she wants ✨magic✨ & he doesn’t do love or romance
-he’s got a big, squishy heart under all that grumpy grumpiness
-radio transcripts
-skee ball & daisies & motor oil & chocolate mints & contraband coffee in a christmas cookie tin
-MFEO 🥹
-hope & comfort
-#IsThisAKissingBook: open door. …”eyes shine up at me, a secret smile on the curve of her lips. I lean forward and drop a kiss to it. Maya screeches on my back. “Don’t be gross! I’m literally right here.” “Then close your eyes,” Lucie mumbles.”
thank you berkley romance for the advanced copy!
4.25 Stars (Rounded Up to 5 stars)
A big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing the ARC of this novel!
I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. As a librarian, I’m always excited to explore new recommendations from patrons, and this author came with high praise. While I’ve read B.K.’s Lovelight series and found them charming, they often felt akin to cozy Hallmark movies. This title, however, had a Sleepless in Seattle vibe that I enjoyed a lot more.
Trigger Warning: Cancer
This book is not just a feel-good romance; it also delves into more serious themes with care and empathy. It’s a testament to the author’s skill that these elements were woven into the narrative in such a meaningful way.
This book had me in a chokehold from the very start. I love that it read like a slow burn and the tension throughout was fantastic it had me kicking my feet and squealing at all the right moments. The characters were so real and down to earth that their struggles made me feel so deeply connected to them, in that they all just want to be loved, and the dive into their fears & what is holding them back.
The banter and chemistry between Aiden and Lucie is phenomenal and had me laughing out loud. Forcing himself to eat food he doesn't particularly like because it's her favorite??? THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT?! Get you someone like Aiden.
Incredible. This is now probably one of my favorite reads of the year.
Came for the cover, stayed for the story. I loved this! Immediately I was so intrigued by the premise and the back and forth between the characters had me hooked so quick. Normally I devour books I like this much but I really made myself savor this because I just didn’t want it to end. I love a romance book that can make me laugh and swoon. This one gets bonus points for being a single mom story and nailing so many mother feelings and thoughts. Throw in found family and it just made it even better. It lost me for a little bit and I wish we got some scenes with Aiden, Lucie, and Maya but still, I loved them all so much. The writing worked so well for me and I absolutely loved the setting, it really stands out from other rom coms I’ve read lately. I cannot wait for the physical copy to by in my hands!
Thank you Berkley for the early access!
𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚:
In this Sleepless in Seattle inspired story, radio host Aiden Valentine and single mom Lucie Stone navigate unexpected sparks after a viral on air interview.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅:
I’m seriously obsessed with this book! Aiden and Lucie are perfection, and every character felt so real. The spice level was just right, and the whole thing had those cozy Nora Ephron vibes. I can’t wait for the next two books in the series!
𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆:
(I want to note this was my most annotated/highlighted read ever)
“I think you’re the magic.” ✨
𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:
💖💖💖💖💖 (5/5)
If you love a good rom-com with heart, this one’s a must-read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC - all opinions are my own!
The stuff in the glove compartment?! Come on that’s so sweet! The fun light banter between Lucie and Aiden is amazing. The plot is so fun and entertaining. Aiden not believing in love before her makes this extra sweet! I can’t wait to see what happens with who in the next book. I absolutely loved this story! I do wish there was more interaction and scenes with her son and Aiden. As a step parent myself I think it would be amazing to relate to this!
Is this a sleepless in Seattle retelling? Becuase it’s giving all the vibes and I love it ! The author always has this way with her books that keep me coming back for more! I enjoyed it very much ! Thank you so much Berkley and NetGalley for the arc copy
4⭐️
Thank you so much to Netgally for giving me an ARC of this book!
This book is absolutely amazing for fans of 90s and early 2000s romcoms! Borison based this book on Sleepless in Seattle and it definitely shows in the best way possible! I felt so much nostalgia for the classic movie while also enjoying the creative liberties Borison took with the book!
I was so incredibly engaged with this book that I finished it in less than 24 hours! Once I picked this book up I could not stop thinking about the characters and what was going to happen next in the story! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the romance genre!
Tropes: work place, friends to lovers, single mom
Thanks to Berkley for an advanced copy of First Time Caller by BK Borison!
I was SO excited for this book (and series) First Time Caller is Sleepless in Seattle inspired and it was such a fun book to read. BK Borison writes the best stories and characters.
This book is a very slow burn and I liked Lucie and Aiden together a lot. They had a great chemistry. Lucie's daughter was cute and I loved the relationship with her parenting partners.
The nostalgia for Sleepless in Seattle was strong and it was the perfect balance of that nostalgia with a twist. Plus the Baltimore references!
A tiny bit of a slow start for me, but then I fell in love. The banter was top tier. What a fun rom com, and one that further cemented my love for B.K. Borison. Borison is firmly moving to auto buy for me!